When it comes to Halloween, most of us accept the idea that it won’t be a good month for healthy eating. The temptation of candy is everywhere but fighting it will only make it harder for you to say “no.” Instead, what we can do is learn exactly how these treats are affecting our bodies. That way we can avoid some of the negative effects of binge eating candy and instead learn to indulge in moderation.
The most important thing to know about candy is that a treat is only a treat if you have it on occasion. It’s no secret that a diet high in processed sugar can increase your risk to obesity, diabetes, heart disease and may even give you a sleeping disorder! These refined sugars go straight to your blood stream, which forces your body to process high levels of sugar very quickly. “We get less efficient at this over time, which is why we become more susceptible to problems like diabetes as we age,” says Kristen Gradney, a spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
Yet, there’s no need to avoid sugar altogether. Moderation is truly the key and even healthy people should curb their daily intake of added sugar to less than 25 grams per day. It’s vital to go by grams of sugar instead of looking strictly at calorie count, since some candies are lower in calories simply because they’re made of pure sugar. Others are made of sugars and fat but without enough fat and protein in a treat to help stabilize blood sugar, candies made of pure sugar will spike your blood sugar levels rapidly resulting in the sugar crash we all know so well.
So what is the ideal Halloween candy? We’ve already seen a push for more organic and health conscious treats from private brands but one tried and true candy that’s long been considered a healthier candy option is chocolate. Some chocolate candy bars tend to balance sugar content with fat, protein (sometimes) and antioxidants. If the chocolate is dark, even better, as studies have linked high levels of cacao in dark chocolate to better endurance and decreased risk of heart attack. The higher the percentage of cacao the less sugar there is in the bar, which is obviously better for you.
Of course this doesn’t mean you can’t have any treats this Halloween; it just means that you should think of Halloween candy as a reward rather than a habit. If you think about it, Halloween completely embodies the spirit of moderation, since it’s the one day a year when we collectively decide to celebrate and indulge in sugary treats. But if you treat every day after the 31st like it’s Halloween, your health’s going to pay for it in the long run.
For healthier candy options, make sure to visit the Qcandystore.com and for more candy news, don’t forget to keep up with our blog!